Aeroplane.



F. CAPRON!l AERoPLANE.

APPLICATION FI LED MAR. 26. Z918. jlpfo Patented May 6, 1919.

2 SHEETS--SHEET I.

F. CAPRONI.

AEROPLANE.

APPLlc/mow FILED MAR. 26, 191s.

l SS; Patented May 6, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

FEDERICO CAPRONI, OF MILAN, ITALY.

AEROPLAN 1E.

Specification of Letters Patent.

'Patented May 6, 1949).

Application filed March 26, 1918. Serial No. 224,867.

To all 'whom t may Concern.'

Be it known that I, FEDERICO CAPRONI, a subject of the King of Italy, residing at Milan, Italy. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Aeroplanes, of which the following is a specifi cation. y

This invention consists of improvements in or modifications of the invention disclosed in my British Patent No. 14157 of October 6, 1915, relating to a landing carriage having four or v,more wheels. The' present invention has for its chief object to generalize the system of landing carriage specified in the said patent and to improve it on the basis of the principle that has been adopted, namely, that the center of gravity of the apparatus shall always be contained in a line intermediate of the end axles of the carriage In the complete specification of the aforesaid patent, the axles of the wheels are fixed to the central rod by means of elastic ties and bearings which are connected together b v means of triple-jointed metal rods connected together by an elastic band attached to the central rod. The front axle is connected by rods and a rocking beam to the curved bow of the central rod., Below each of the 4said connecting rodsof the axles there is mounted a truss for the proper distribution of the strains.

A practical form of the present invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a plan and a side view of a four-wheeled carriage embodying the present improvements.

Fig. 3 illustrates a modification of the carriage hereinafter referred to.-

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 illustrate respectively in front view, side view and in plan. the application of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to a biplane.

As shown, 1, 1, are the fuselages of a biplane. 2, 2, are the landing carriages mounted in front of these fuselages symmetrically with relation to the axis of the aeroplane. rlhe said carriages consist respectively'of the uprights 29, 33, 34 and 35 connecting the central rod and' the. bow 31 of the fuselage carriage. 36 and 37 are the axles of the wheels 38 and 39 which are located betached to the latter by means of elastic bands 40 and 41.

44 and 44 are triangular struts fixed at one end by means of the sleeve 47 with hinge 48 to the axles of the wheels, and at their other ends to a rocking beam 45 connected by means of a ball and socket joint7 as regards the front axle, to the head of the curve o'f the bow 31, and as regards the rear axle, to the attachment point of the upright 34. rlhe whole is provided with elastic means.

Fig. 3 shows a group of wheels of a landing carriage, having substantially the shape and construction shown in the aforesaid patent. rlhe elastic band which encircles and connects the rods 42 to the bow 31 may be dispensed with.

Each carriage, instead of having two pairs of wheels, may have three or more pairs, the same apparatus being repeated foreach further axle as in the case of the second axle above referred to.

As the carriages are arranged symmetrically below the fuselages as stated, and as shown in Fig. 5, the center of gravity will coincide with the central point between the two axles in the case of a carriage having two pairs of wheels` and will be situated approximately in the central axle in the case of a carriage having three pairs of wheels, so that there will always be the possibility of returning the aeroplane into its normal position both when rising od' the ground as well as when landing, whether the aeroplane inclines or bears more especially upon the front wheels or upon the rear wheels.

With the construction illustrated it will be seen, that by locating the landing wheels tothe front and rear and at each side of the center of gravity of the machine, and by arranging the axles beneath the bows and connecting the middle 'of the axles to the bows by rubber bands, that the machine in landing will .automatically accommodate itself to the ground surface and will automatically right itself for safe landing.

lf the front wheels contact with the ground first, the bulk of the weight of the machine will be to the rear of these wheels, and will have a tendency to bring the machine to an even keel, while if the rear wheelsV should engage the soil first, the bulk of the weight will be forward of the rear wheels, and in consequence the front wheels will be drawn down to the earth` Also if the wheels on one side of the machine engage the soil before the wheels on the other side Contact, the bulk of the weight will be on the side of the machine nearest the wheels above the ground, and the machine will be righted automatically.

It will also be seen that no matter which set or sets of wheels land first, the bow or bows connected to the axle or axles of those wheels, may move away from said axle or axles against the tension of the rubber bands, and the shock caused by landing will be absorbed. l

As the axles are connected intermediate their ends to the bows, they will permit the wheels to automatically accommodate themselves to uneven ground surfaces.

It is to be understood that the constructional details may vary from those herein described and shown without departing from the nature of the invention.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is 1. The combination with an aeroplane, of a framework located on each side of the center of gravity of the aeroplane and each including a longitudinally extending bow, a plurality of axles located beneath each bow and secured intermediate their ends to the bow by means of elastic bands, the axles of each framework being located to the front and rear of the center of gravity of the aeroplane, wheels mounted on said axles, rocking beams secured to the frameworks by universal joints, and rods pivotally connected to said beams and to each of said axles. A

2. In an aeroplane, a fuselage located on each side of the center of gravity of the aeroplane, a framework locatedbeneath each fuselage, a plurality of axles secured intermediate their ends to each of the frameworks'by elastic bands, which are wrapped around the axles and frameworks, the axles of each framework being located to the front and rear of the center of gravity of the machine, wheels mounted on said axles, rocking` beams secured to said framework by universal joints, and rods pivotally connected to said beams and said axles. l

In testimonyv whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

FEDERICG CAPRONI. 

